[Summer] Hometown Vacation

Cygnus looked out from the window of the train as it slid across the tracks over the water. Her face lit up in wonder as she watched the waves crash beneath her, before she turned to look at Ophiuchus. “So… this is where you were born?” She gasped out, the beautiful sunny seascape framing her gaze.

Ophiuchus nodded, face warm as he watched his fiancée’s face light up with excitement. “I’ve booked us a very nice hotel by the beach.” He hummed. “I know the owner, it’s a real cute little spot. Townhouses, more like, than the traditional sort of hotel.”

She beamed. “Oh Ophy.” She held her paw out to him. “This was so sweet—I can’t believe you planned all of this on a whim.”

He chuckled shyly, taking her paw into his as he stood next to where she sat on the train. “Well, when I heard we’d be around my old planet…” His face flushed more. “And you, you know, you already brought me to your home before, so I thought this would be a nice break before the next mission starts.”

She pulled him into a hug, planting a small kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, love.” She nuzzled into him. “I think we really did need a vacation, after all.”

They’d left their research ship at the docking bay down the way, travelling from the port to the beachside city with smiles on their faces. After checking into the hotel and putting their things away in the small beach house, Ophiuchus took her down the boardwalk. There, a carnival invited them to play games, eat street snacks, and enjoy the scenery as the warm summer breeze made for the perfect afternoon.

Soon, as day turned to night, he led his fiancée to a nice restaurant off the main street. A fancy place that sold all sorts of fresh seafood and tasty treats.

Cygnus chose the salmon dish, bedded with a delicious glaze and asparagus. Ophiuchus chose a sea bass with potatoes and some sort of gravy drizzled on top—the two couldn’t resist the temptation of a dessert after, either. They enjoyed a towering chocolate cake as a finishing piece, filled with molten chocolate that spilled out as they took bites from it.

In the evening, they washed up and spent their time listening to music, sitting on the patio of their hotel room to watch the moon rise from above the horizon. Streaks of light danced across the tops of the waves, glittering in the darkness as stars above them sparkled.

“I can’t believe you grew up somewhere like this.” She hummed out, taking a sip from a smoothie she’d gotten ordered to the room. “This is some bonafide perfect-summer postcard nonsense.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Yep. Well, This is the nicer part of the city, you know… tourism and stuff, but I went to the school just down the street.” He explained. “I mostly grew up by the stockyards, though. This planet has a really booming aquatic ecosystem, hell—nearly 90% of the planet is water, after all. So, most people here fish.”

“Is that why you became an ecologist?” She tilted her head. “I remember you talking about it before, how your planet took species conservation and stuff seriously.”

“Sorta.” He waved his hands a little as he explained. “They’re really particular about when and where you catch fish, and they’re always ensuring theres a steady population. When a species is at risk, new fishing guidelines come out.” He explained. “There’s plenty of standard professions here, of course, but fishing and conservation are the big tickets. I wasn’t as good at it as my dad was, though, so ecology was the natural progression for me.”

“Oh, but you like land fauna more.”

“Funny, right?” He sighed. “Not much room land flora and fauna specialists here. It’s a tight market… so, I headed for the institute after my degree.”

Cygnus could hear the small amount of disdain in his voice—there was clearly more to the story of his past, but she didn’t want to pry. There was likely a reason they were staying here… and not meeting his family, after all.

“Well, I for one, am so happy you did.” She hummed. “You’re the only scientist in that whole department that could keep up with me, after all… I’m so… grateful we met.”

He flushed, looking away.

“And for whatever it’s worth, Ophy. Maybe it’s a good thing that we can come back and enjoy this place as a vacation destination rather than work, right? I’d much rather treasure these memories than work ones.”

He felt a slight relief in his heart as he nodded, settling into the chair before looking back out to the sea. “Yeah… Honestly, seeing the ocean and not thinking about work… it’s really refreshing being back like this.” He admitted. “Thank you, Cy.”

“I love you.”

“Ugh. I love you too. This is too sappy now-“ He rubbed his face. “Tomorrow we’ll need to go to the beach, you know.”

“Oh, absolutely.” She nodded. “Will you teach me to fish?”

“I can really try.” He laughed. “But no promises.”